THE SIX Nations kicks off with a date at Twickenham and Johnnie Beattie hopes he can shake off an injury and emulate his famous father.

SCOTTISH Rugby have confirmed that back-row forwards Johnnie Beattie and David Denton were only able to play a limited part in Scotland's open training session this afternoon after picking up injuries on club duty.

The build-up to the Six Nations began in earnest this week at the Scotstoun Stadium with a couple of notable absentees.

Beattie, who has just returned to the international fold after an 18 month absence, reported for training with a wrist problem following Montpellier's Heineken Cup win over Toulon over Saturday.

Denton, meanwhile, is suffering from a knee injury having failed a late fitness test ahead of Edinburgh's weekend clash Saracens.

Scotland team doctor James Robson said of the duo: "Both are progressing in their recovery and will be subject to further assessment this week with a view to being available for consideration for our opening RBS 6 Nations Championship match against England a week on Saturday."

A number of other Scotland players were also carrying knocks, although Grant Gilchrist (ankle sprain), Tim Visser (foot), Ruaridh Jackson (rib), Sean Lamont (rib), Pat MacArthur (ankle sprain) and Chris Fusaro (groin) were all expected to play some part in training at Scotstoun Stadium.

Beattie is desperate to get the opportunity to emulate his father and be part of a winning Scotland team at Twickenham.

Beattie's father John, like him a number eight, was in the team the last time the Scots won there in 1983.

"If I'm handed the opportunity it would be absolutely enormous," the Montpellier forward said. "It would be a fantastic challenge.

"We haven't won there since 1983. My old man was playing the last time we beat England at Twickenham, so it would be nice if given the chance to try to change that story and I can be part of the most recent team to beat England."

And Beattie takes encouragement from England's own recent win against the odds, their 38-21 triumph over the All Blacks.

"If you look at England against New Zealand in the autumn, absolutely nobody would have given them a chance of beating New Zealand but they absolutely blitzed them," the former Glasgow player said.

"That's the game of rugby, it can quite easily swing both ways and if we perform well and England have an off day, you never know."

Scotland go into the Six Nations on the back of a defeat against Tonga in November, which prompted Andy Robinson to quit as head coach, and a Six Nations campaign last year that yielded no points.

But Beattie believes they have the foundations for a successful tournament.

"If you look at the Scottish squad you would say the forwards have done a good job, the scrum has been consistently going well, the lineout has done well," the 27-year-old said.

"Those are the two basic elements you need to compete in any rugby match at any level. So we are generally in matches but maybe our attack has let us down and little lapses in defence.

"If we can improve a little bit in our tackle area and contest our ball and get a bit more structure and be a little bit more patient and simplistic in attack, and not try and force things, then we can cause any team problems."